Pituitary Tumor: Causes, Symptoms, and What You Need to Know

When something goes wrong with the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland at the base of your brain that controls most of your body’s hormones. Also known as the master gland, it tells your thyroid, adrenal glands, ovaries, and testes what to do. When a pituitary tumor, a noncancerous growth on the pituitary gland. Also known as a pituitary adenoma, it forms, it doesn’t just sit there—it starts messing with your hormone levels in ways you might not even notice at first.

Pituitary tumors are more common than most people think. About 1 in 5 adults has one, and most never know it because they’re small and don’t cause symptoms. But when they grow or make too much of a hormone, things change fast. A prolactinoma, the most common type of pituitary tumor that overproduces prolactin. Also known as a prolactin-secreting tumor, it can cause milk production in people who aren’t pregnant, missed periods, or low sex drive. Other tumors might push on nearby nerves and cause vision problems, or flood your body with cortisol, leading to weight gain, high blood pressure, or mood swings. These aren’t random side effects—they’re direct results of your pituitary gland sending the wrong signals.

What causes these tumors? No one knows for sure. They’re not linked to lifestyle, diet, or stress. Most happen by chance. But once they’re found, the big question becomes: do you need treatment? Some tumors stay small and harmless, needing only yearly scans. Others require medication to shrink them, like dopamine agonists for prolactinomas. Surgery might be needed if the tumor is pressing on your optic nerves. Radiation is rare but used when other options fail. The key is catching it early—not because it’s dangerous, but because the symptoms can be reversed if you act fast.

You might be reading this because you’ve had unexplained fatigue, headaches, or changes in your period or sex drive. Or maybe a doctor mentioned a tumor on an MRI and you’re trying to understand what it means. Either way, you’re not alone. These tumors are treatable, and many people go back to living normally after diagnosis. Below, you’ll find real-world insights from people who’ve been there—from how doctors diagnose these tumors, to what medications actually do, to how lifestyle adjustments help manage the side effects. This isn’t just theory. It’s what works in practice.